Federal Minister for Family Services, Warwick Smith, today announced
a major change in the funding of vacation child care for Victorian school
aged ch ildren.

"From the start
of the second term school holidays, all vacation care services that
were jointly funded by the Commonwealth and State Governments will be
transferred to the new Commonwealth childcare assistance system,"
Mr Smith said.

Mr Smith said the move
to the new Commonwealth childcare assistance system would simplify funding
arrangements for the vacation care sector in Victoria.

"In future, families
using these services will be entitled to the new Childcare Assistance,
making care more affordable for low and middle income families."

"And for the first
time, families with incomes between $27,000 and $65,941 (or up to $94,378
where there are 3 or more children in care) will be eligible for Childcare
Assistance in the school age care sector."

"The Federal Government
is firmly committed to providing as many families as possible with access
to the new and improved Childcare Assistance system for school age care,"
Mr Smith said.

To help them administer
the new system, all services will receive training and information sessions
and access to the hotline service.

Eligible vacation care
services in rural and remote Victoria will be supported through disadvantaged
area subsidies so that working families in these areas do not lose access
to care.

Members of the public
with enquiries about childcare assistance can call 131524 for more information.